Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women

Geraldine Brooks spent six years as a Middle East correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, using her access as a woman to enter the private spaces of Muslim societies. The narrative examines the chasm between the original tenets of the Quran regarding women’s rights and the contemporary legal and cultural restrictions enforced across different nations. Brooks documents the lives of diverse figures, from Queen Noor of Jordan to women in rural Iranian villages and Sahrawi refugees, detailing how local patriarchy and political extremism dictate female autonomy, dress codes, and marital status.

Sociologists and history enthusiasts read this work to understand the varied interpretations of Sharia law and its impact on gender roles. Readers gain a nuanced perspective on the internal tensions between Islamic feminism and traditionalist movements. The text provides a record of human experiences that are often shielded from Western view, offering concrete examples of how religion is utilized to both empower and restrict women in the political sphere. Through these accounts, the audience learns to differentiate between theological mandates and cultural traditions in the Islamic world.